City Tour Berlin: Scheunenviertel and Hackesche Höfe

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Stroll through old Berlin and immerse yourself in the history of the city

Hear about the development of the city, the Zille-Milieu, the 1920s, stories of gangsters, and further changes

Experience the Hackeschen and Heckmann Höfe, a not yet renovated Höfe in the Schwarzenberg House, and an old ballroom

Overview

Experience old Berlin, stories about crooks, small alleyways, and the milieu of Zille. You will be introduced to the twenties, explore renovated and derelict courtyards, an old ballroom, and delve into the Jewish history of Berlin.

What to Expect

Get ready for an exciting tour! This tour of the Scheunenviertel and Hackesche Höfe is a foray into old Berlin. The tour begins at Rosa-Luxemburg Platz, where you will discover old courtyards, learn about the settlement of Berlin's Jews, and hear all manner of political stories.

Not only are the former headquarters of the KPD (German Communist Party) located here, but also the Volksbühne (the people's political theater), and the famous Kino Babylon.

Afterwards, set off down narrow alleyways. Hear stories of the Ringvereine, clubs of former inmates who dominated the area, of the Demimonde (Hedonists), and prostitution, as well as of the working-class Zille-Milieu. The Mulackritze, also called simply "Ritze," was a legendary bar that Marlene Dietrich, Heinrich Zille, and Gustav Gründgens regularly frequented. Here, you will get a feel for the old, exciting worlds based here.

During the second part of the tour, you will visit various former courtyards. In Haus Schwarzenberg you will be introduced to the building conditions under the German Democratic Republic. The Hackeschen Höfe and Rosenhöfe speak to old social ideas and the resourcefulness of commerce.

Next, you'll visit an old, not-yet-renovated ballroom. The hall of mirrors on the first floor, formerly reserved for the aristocracy, as well as the ballroom on the ground floor bring you back to the twenties and are also a great going-out location. To this day, you can go dancing there on weekends and enjoy live music. You'll visit the hall of mirrors even if the ballroom isn't open.

Finally, you'll learn about the history of Auguststraße, the "AHAWAH" Jewish orphanage, and, on the way to the New Synagogue, where the tour concludes, the Heckmannhöfe. Enjoy a relaxing and interesting tour and experience a unique side of Berlin's diverse history.